Presidents Day weekend 2026 has produced wide discounts on Apple hardware and Beats accessories across major online retailers, with many markdowns live through the end of the holiday weekend. Retailers are offering savings on 28 popular items, with reductions reaching as much as 50 percent on select accessories. Highlights include price cuts on AirPods Pro 3, multiple MacBook models powered by M4 and M5 chips, the Apple Watch Series 11, and several iPad configurations. CNN Underscored editors tested most items in this roundup and identify a number of the lowest prices seen so far this year.
Key Takeaways
- 28 Apple and Beats products are discounted for Presidents Day, with accessory deals up to 50 percent off.
- AirPods Pro 3 are at a new low price after winning CNN Underscored awards for sound and ANC.
- AirPods 4 with ANC are marked down about 22 percent, while standard AirPods 4 are roughly 30 dollars off.
- Over-ear AirPods Max models are discounted by about 99 dollars at several retailers.
- MacBook Air M4 (13-inch and 15-inch) and MacBook Pro 14-inch M5 are each $150 off, matching or beating previous seasonal sales.
- Apple Watch Series 11 is $100 off, returning to its best recorded price; Apple Watch SE 3 is discounted by about $29.
- Tablets including the 11th‑gen iPad, iPad Air M3 (11-inch and 13-inch), and iPad Mini (7th gen) see meaningful reductions from $50 to $119 off.
- Multiple official Apple accessories are discounted, including adapters, cables, the Apple Pencil Pro, Magic Keyboard Folio, and watch bands with double-digit percentage cuts.
Background
Presidents Day has become a key calendar moment for consumer electronics discounts in the United States, with retailers timing inventory moves and promotion cycles around the long weekend. Apple-affiliated products historically see fewer deep price cuts than many commodity electronics, but major retail events sometimes produce notable exceptions on select models and accessories. In recent product cycles Apple introduced devices powered by M4 and M5 silicon in desktops and laptops and refreshed the Apple Watch lineup in September 2025 with the Series 11, which included battery life and hypertension monitoring improvements.
CNN Underscored operates a deals desk that tracks price histories, tests devices hands-on, and evaluates whether sale prices represent genuine savings. The coverage aims to distinguish temporary markdowns from sustained price drops and to surface configurations and colorways that deliver the best value. Editors cross-check offers across retailers and consult testing notes so readers can make purchase decisions based on both price movement and product performance.
Main Event
Retailers such as Amazon are hosting the bulk of the Presidents Day Apple discounts. The AirPods Pro 3 received a notable price cut and is listed at its lowest level to date in this cycle; its combination of active noise cancellation, improved audio and extended battery life earned it strong testing marks. For shoppers seeking more budget friendly options, the AirPods 4 with ANC are reduced by about 22 percent and the non-ANC AirPods 4 are available for approximately 30 dollars off the prior going rate.
On the laptop front Apple 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Air models with the M4 chip are $150 off, which represents the largest markdown of the year so far for those configurations. The new 14-inch MacBook Pro with M5 likewise appears with a $150 reduction, matching the fall Black Friday sale level. These cuts apply to common configurations sold through major retailers and are intended to move inventory during the holiday sales window.
Wearables and tablets are also in the spotlight: the Apple Watch Series 11 has returned to its best recorded price with a $100 discount, while the Apple Watch SE 3 is trimmed by about $29. iPad discounts include $50 off the 11th‑gen iPad, $110 off the 11-inch iPad Air M3, $119 off the 13-inch iPad Air M3, and $100 off the iPad Mini 7th gen — several of these are the most significant reductions seen since Cyber Week or the start of the year.
Accessories are heavily discounted too, with the 20W USB-C compact power adapter more than 30 percent off, the Apple Pencil Pro reduced by $34, and the Magic Keyboard Folio down by $50. Official cables, sport bands and other Apple‑branded peripherals are frequently marked down by double-digit percentages, in some cases up to about 42 percent for charging cables.
Analysis & Implications
These Presidents Day reductions create a buying opportunity for consumers who have been waiting for meaningful Apple discounts, especially on accessories that Apple rarely includes in device packaging. Because Apple tends to protect its pricing on flagship devices, when laptops and watches do appear at $100 to $150 off it often signals retailers are clearing inventory of popular configurations or are offering limited-time price matching to capture holiday traffic.
From a product cycle perspective, the timing of these sales is notable. Apple’s major hardware windows typically occur in late fall and spring; discounts this February suggest retailers are balancing inventory for spring product announcements and model refreshes. Buyers who need immediate upgrades or accessories may find concrete value, but those seeking the absolute newest configurations should weigh potential upcoming announcements that could prompt further price realignment.
For the broader market, these sales can temporarily depress demand for secondhand devices while new units are available at lower price points. They may also pressure competing brands to run parallel promotions. Finally, the mix of deep accessory cuts alongside modest laptop and watch discounts indicates retailers view margin on peripherals as a lever to bring customers into larger basket purchases during a high-traffic shopping weekend.
Comparison & Data
| Category | Representative Discount |
|---|---|
| Earbuds (AirPods Pro 3 / AirPods 4) | New low price / ~22% / $30 off |
| Laptops (MacBook Air M4, MacBook Pro M5) | $150 off each |
| Smartwatches (Series 11 / SE 3) | $100 off / $29 off |
| Tablets (iPad, iPad Air M3, iPad Mini) | $50 to $119 off |
| Accessories (cables, adapters, Pencil) | 30% to 50% on select items |
The table summarizes headline savings observed across core categories during this Presidents Day window. These figures reflect the most commonly advertised reductions at major national retailers at the time of publication. Individual savings vary by color, configuration and seller, and bundle offers can alter the effective price for some shoppers.
Reactions & Quotes
These holiday markdowns give shoppers real moments to buy products that rarely see sustained discounts, particularly official accessories that usually hold steady in price.
CNN Underscored deals editor
Retailers often time promotions like this to clear inventory ahead of spring product cycles, which is why laptops and watches appear with modest but meaningful price cuts.
Independent retail analyst
Consumers have responded positively on social channels to the AirPods and iPad discounts, with many noting the prices match or beat Black Friday levels.
Public reaction aggregated from social and forum posts
Unconfirmed
- Some all time low claims for specific models and colorways are retailer dependent and may not apply to every configuration.
- Stock levels and exact prices can change rapidly during the holiday weekend and may differ between regional storefronts.
- Certain bundled discounts cited by third parties were not verifiable at all retailers at time of publication.
Bottom Line
Presidents Day 2026 presents a meaningful window to buy Apple and Beats products at prices that in several cases match or beat previous seasonal lows. Accessories show the deepest percentage reductions, while laptops, tablets and watches are available with moderate but notable savings that are worth considering if you need an upgrade now. For buyers prioritizing value, focus on verified configurations and use price history as a benchmark to avoid impulse purchases on temporary offers.
Readers who can wait should watch for short term price movement after the weekend and compare warranty and return terms across sellers. For immediate purchases, verified deals on AirPods Pro 3, MacBook Air M4 models, Apple Watch Series 11 and select iPad configurations represent some of the clearest bargains in this Presidents Day sale round.
Sources
- CNN Underscored (media, original deal roundup)
- Amazon (retailer listings and advertised discounts)
- Apple Newsroom (official product information and specifications)